One gravestone at Kirwee (St George’s) simply notes the names of four of the children of John Walter and Elizabeth BELGRAVE. I decided to see if I could find out more about the family.

John Walter Belgrave was born in 1861. NZETC has a small bio on him which reads:

Black-smith and Music Teacher, Kirwee. Mr. Belgrave was born in 1861, in Lyttelton, where his father, the late Mr. Robert Belgrave, was for many years a hotelkeeper. He was educated at private and public schools in Lyttelton, and afterwards apprenticed to the blacksmithing trade in Christchurch, where he continued to work for about ten years. In 1884 he established a blacksmith’s business, which he still conducts at Kirwee, and has since resided within a few yards of the railway station in that district. Early in life Mr. Belgrave gave evidence of considerable musical talent, and was accordingly placed under capable tutors. Whilst working at his trade in Christcurch he took lessons from Mr. Corrick, and was for two years a member of the band organised and conducted by that gentleman. Mr. Belgrave plays a number of instruments, of some of which he has acquired his knowledge without instruction. He has considerable number of pupils, and was for seven years choirmaster at the local Baptist church. Mr. Belgrave is a member of the Kirwee school committee and of the Courtenay Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and the Orange Lodge; of the latter he is a Past Master.

John married Elizabeth Clarke, daughter of William Clarke of Christchurch, on 30 April 1884 at St Michael’s Church in Christchurch, as reported on page 2 of The Star dated 2 May, 1884.

St Michael's Church, Christchurch, built in 1872

New Zealand BMD online records show John and Elizabeth had many children – the records suggest 12 in total although the full version of the bio above cites 10. Sadly, as the gravestone in the cemetery of St George’s Church in Kirwee shows, at least four did not survive early child and adulthood.

John died, aged 70, on 1st March, 1931. His wife Elizabeth died a couple of years later in 1933. Both are buried in the cemetery at St George’s in Kirwee.

My interest in the Belgrave children was piqued by the scant detail on the group gravestone.

Mildred was born in 1890, according to NZ birth records. Her father’s given name is mispelt ‘Watter” instead of Walter on the records. Her death is recorded as 1910, making her just 20 years old when she died.

Muriel Emily – b. 1887.
Muriel married Richard Wright in 1904. According to John Harper, President of the Waipara District Historical Society, the couple farmed at The Peaks near Hawarden for some years.

Lucilla Alice – b. 1894 Died in 1907, aged 17. Unmarried.
I believe the death info listed on BMD Online has listed age at death incorrectly and that this is the Lucilla Alice who died age 12, listed on the above headstone.